Home -> Law Blog Directory -> Criminal Law Blogs -> The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

Criminal Law

: The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog

WA: Policy that lets prisoners serve half their sentences reduces money and doesn't increase crime

By Real Cost of Prisons Project (The Sentencing Project)

Tacoma, WA - Monday, December 8, 2008 News Tribune Policy that lets inmates get out early might stay JOSEPH TURNER A policy that has allowed many Washington inmates to get out of prison after serving only half of their sentences may be extended by a cash-strapped Legislature because the program saves money and doesn?t increase crime. Since mid-2003, many inmates who are sent to prison for nonviolent crimes such as burglary, theft and drugs have been allowed to accrue ?good time? equal to 50 percent of their sentences. Then-Gov. Gary Locke and the Legislature approved that change to the ?time off for good behavior? policy that previously had been limited to no more than one-third of an inmate?s sentence. Then, as now, the governor and Legislature were facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, and were looking for ways to cut state spending...continue to full post

Full post as published by The Real Cost of Prisons Weblog on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).